By By Chandler Myers
Escambia County’s Blue Devils basketball team hosted the Northview Chiefs Friday night in a battle of area rivals seperated by eight miles and a state line.
The home game proved to be sweet for the Blue Devils as they were able to earn a sound and convincing 54-42 victory over the Chiefs.
Leading the way for Escambia County in the win was senior guard Cedric Pierce who scored all of his 14 points in the fourth quarter hitting four three-pointers and a lay-up.
The Blue Devils (4-4, 0-0) had control of the momentum from the moment the ball was tossed in the air for the tipoff.
In the first period, it was all Blue Devils as they scored 10 points in the first quarter with forwards Devante Brown, Dalvin Craft and guard Chris Walker all contributing points.
Brown finished the game with six points and seven rebounds, while Craft recorded three points with one assist and one steal and Walker posted two points.
Northview was held to four points in the first quarter with Aaron Bellamy and Dabny Langhorne scoring two points apiece.
Bellamy finished the night with seven points, and Langhorne scored six in the loss.
The teams played a much tigher second quarter with the Blue Devils still coming out on top 9-8 in the period to take a comfortable 19-12 lead into halftime.
Blue Devil T. Brown along with D. McMillan and Gavin Salter scored the points for the Blue Devils in the quarter. Brown finished with nine points on the night to go with three rebounds, three assists and two steals, with McMillan adding three points, one assist and a stolen pass, and Salter scored two points.
Northview’s scoring production came from Lance Bushaw who scored six of his game-high 17 points in the second period. Langhorne also added two of his six in the second quarter.
After halftime, Northview fought back tying the Blue Devils 14-14 in the the third period with several players scoring points.
Bushaw again led the way adding four points in the quarter, while Austin Arrington added three of his five points.
Stanley Chestnut (five points), Bellamy and Langhorne all scored two points apiece in the quarter, and Ladarion White (five points) recorded one.
In the final quarter, the Blue Devils finished off the Chiefs by outscoring them 21-16 to walk away with a 54-42 win.
Pierce came alive in the fourth quarter hitting all five of his shots with four coming from beyond the three-point line. Rayvon Madison also scored all four of his points in the quarter. He also recorded one rebound and dished out an assist.
Scoring for Northview in the fourth included Bushaw with seven points, White with four points, Bellamy with three and Arrington with two.
The Blue Devils next game is Friday in the Escambia County basketball tournament at Flomaton High School.
Northview’s next game is Thursday at home against Central. Tipoff is at 6 p.m.